Our fourth birthday celebration post covers our excavation, and subsequent reconstruction of, a Mesolithic hut from Howick, Northumberland.
The site was first brought to archaeological attention when flint tools were discovered eroding from the cliff edge. This discovery prompted excavations by ARS Ltd and the University of Newcastle during the summers of 2000 and 2002 during which the remains of a circular timber-built hut with a sunken floor and central hearth were discovered. The hearth material was radiocarbon dated to 7800 BC which confirms that the structure was erected during the Mesolithic and that it is the earliest occupation site in Northumberland. These stoutly-built Mesolithic timber huts are a phenomenon occurring in the North-East of England during the 8th millennium BC whereby people were beginning to construct permanent ‘homes’.
During the excavation it was decided that in order to maximise our understanding of the site we would sieve 100% of excavated deposits as well as by undertaking on-site flotation of the environmental samples. This strategy proved successful as 62% of our total flint assemblage was recovered as a result and has led to Howick being one of the most completely understood Mesolithic sites in Britain.
In early 2005, and filmed as part of the first series of the BBC’s Coast, it was decided to undertake an experimental reconstruction of the hut to further our understanding of how it may have been originally built as well as providing tangible interpretation for the public.
The hut consists of a ‘tepee’ frame of long birch poles which provide the basic cone shape. These were reinforced with a ring of uprights and cross beams using thick pine logs. The final structural elements were the spars which locked the structure together and also provided the support for roofing the structure. It was decided to construct the roof out of turf as the robust timber frame had clearly supported a heavy roof covering. It is possible that the original roof may have consisted of a combination of turf and reed thatch, with the soil facing out and reed thatch pinned to this, creating an insulated, waterproof and flame-retardant roof.